Got pot? Not in Saratoga, says city council–medicinal or otherwise Monday, June 20th, 2011 11:02 am | by cadfy

The Saratoga City Council is just saying no to drugs.

The council, in a 4-0 vote, adopted a zoning ordinance amendment that prohibits medical marijuana dispensaries from opening in the city. The council made its decision at a June 15 public meeting.

Councilman Manny Cappello was absent.

"I firmly believe that medical marijuana dispensaries attract a criminal element, create officer safety issues and would foster blight in the city of Saratoga," said Capt. Carl Neusel of the Santa Clara County Office of the Sheriff-West Valley Division.

Neusel said that there is a close connection between medical marijuana dispensaries and pot farms, which he said are dangerous to residents, officers and the environment. Three pot farms have been found in the hills surrounding the community since 2005, he said. Police raided a pot farm off of Bohlman Road three years ago.

The establishment of a dispensary would present health and safety issues to the community and will invite crime to the city, Neusel said.

The city received several inquiries two years ago from potential medical marijuana dispensary owners, a staff report states. In November 2009 the council adopted a temporary moratorium on granting approval for dispensaries.

The moratorium has been extended twice and would have expired on Nov. 17. It could not have been extended again.

The new ordinance defines a medical marijuana dispensary as "any location where a primary caregiver or a collective or cooperative provides marijuana to more than two qualified individuals."

The ordinance was structured to allow households with two members who are qualified patients to cultivate and consume medical marijuana within their household, a staff report states.

Milpitas, Morgan Hill, Palo Alto and Sunnyvale allow for distribution to only one qualified individual, the staff report states. Campbell, Gilroy, Los Altos and Mountain View do not allow any distribution.

Mayor Howard Miller said that larger cities such as San Jose have the money and capability of dealing with dispensaries. Saratoga does not, he added.

Vice Mayor Chuck Page agreed and said people will have the ability to purchase medical marijuana elsewhere.

"I think it's better for us to not have it in Saratoga," Page said.